Southern Makers festival coming to Birmingham

Updated March 3, 2016 at 4:17 PM;Posted March 3, 2016 at 4:00 PM

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The Southern Makers festival, which has sold out each of its first three years in Montgomery, Ala., has announced plans to stage an additional festival in Birmingham on Sept. 10-11, 2016. (Photo courtesy of Southern Makers)

The popular Southern Makers festival, which has sold out in each of its first three years in Montgomery, has added a second festival that will take place in Birmingham later this year.

The two-day event, scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 10-11 at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, will showcase the goods and products of more than 200 of Alabama's most creative cooks, brewers, farmers, builders, artists, designers and craftspeople.

"There are a lot of makers throughout this state that have been doing a craft, whether that's producing soap, whether that's brewing beer, whether that's furniture making or boat making -- architectural salvage to art to architecture," Garlan Gudger, one of the founders of Southern Makers, said at a press conference today at Sloss Furnaces.

"The first year (2013), we thought we might have a couple of hundred people there and (get) a slap on the back and say, 'Good job,'" Gudger, who also owns Southern Accents Architectural Antiques in Cullman, said. "It sold out -- 2,500 tickets -- and we realized, 'We're on to something here.'. . .

"It's inbred in you (in the South) not to speak and brag about what you do,'' he added. "This is a platform of Southern creativity and innovation that allows people to say, 'I'm good at what I do, I'm good at making.'

"And we're proud that these makers are in Alabama, and we're proud that we're going to be able to sponsor a second event here in Birmingham, Ala., this year, along with the one in Montgomery."

This year's Montgomery Southern Makers festival takes place April 30-May 1 at the Union Station Train Shed.

Tickets to that event are $35 per day and $50 for the weekend for adults, $20 per day and $30 for the weekend for children 11-17, and $200 for a VIP pass. Children 10 and under get in free. Tickets are available online here.

"When we open applications for Birmingham, it's going to be large," he said. "I would imagine we'll have close to 1,000 applicants, and we'll try to get around 200 to 250 makers here.

"We want to make sure it's diverse, but the key is that you do your craft with a passion and that it's quality. This is not an arts and crafts show. It's totally different. And when you come, you'll see the difference."

Although there will be a lot of competition for a spot at the festival, those makers who are accepted will not have to pay an entry fee, Gudger added.

"It is an honor, we feel like, if we allow you to be a maker at this show," he said. "We don't charge the makers vendor fees or booth rentals like every other show in the world. If you make this, you are our guest of honor and we want to make sure you feel special."